Wenger and Gartside at odds as Bolton reject ‘derisory’ Cahill bid

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger is on a collision course with Bolton chairman Phil Gartside over the proposed signing of Gary Cahill.

The Gunners have tabled an offer for the England defender which Bolton have described as “derisory”. Bolton say the offer is £6 million but Wenger insists that figure is incorrect.

“That number is wrong,” said Wenger. “It is completely wrong. Every negotiation is between two parties and you only have to sell the player if you are all right with the price. In this case the information is below what has been spoken about.”

Bolton manager Owen Coyle has blasted the offer and chairman Gartside became involved when he retweeted an offensive message from a fan questioning the seriousness of the bid. The retweet was later deleted.

Wenger, however, was angry at Bolton’s reaction. He said: “You only have to sell the player if you are all right with the price. It is not true. You can believe Gartside or you can believe me. It’s not right. It’s not the truth.

“If Gartside can say I am lying I am ready to confront him. The truth is that we never speak about our negotiations. If a club doesn’t want to sell a player it can keep him. When we sign a player we come out here and tell you and keep the price a secret.

“They do not need to sell the player, they can keep him. If you ask do I want to buy your house and you are not happy with the price you say no, that’s it. Why should you feel insulted? I don’t understand. If the player is not for sale they can keep him. I don’t understand the problem.

“If we want to buy the player we buy the player. I do not have to explain for how much.”

There is no doubt Arsenal could do with a defender of Cahill’s stature, however, considering they go into tomorrow’s clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford struggling for numbers.

Centre-half Thomas Vermaelen will have a fitness test today and Laurent Koscielny only came through a fitness test on his back problem yesterday morning.

Sebastien Squillaci is also out, along with Kieran Gibbs (hamstring), Abou Diaby (ankle) and Nicklas Bendtner, who also has an ankle problem, but Wenger does not believe it will stop the wantaway striker leaving the club. Alex Song, Gervinho and Emmanuel Frimpong, meanwhile, are suspended.